Drill apparatus with safety control



Filed Feb. 4, 1948 July 21, 1953 2,646,144

A. B. CRICHTQN, JR, EI'AL DRILL APPARATUS WITH SAFETY CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet l GOAL 1? CUTTER INVENTORQ y 1953 A. B. CRICHTON, JR, EI'AL 2,646,144

' DRILL APPARATUS WITH SAFETY CONTROL Filed Feb. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X5 Fig. 3.

. Zia/11670 mmvzrom Patented July 21, 1953 2,646,144. DRILL APPARATUS. WITHSAFETYOONTROL Andrew B'. Crichton, .lrz, .lohnstown; Pa., and Carl GI Wennerstrom, Chicago; 111.; said Wennerstroinr assignor to The Crichton Company, .lohnstown, Pa., ai'corporation of- Delaware- Application February 4, 19%8, Serial No. 6,236

. means utilizing electricity as the source of power;

for mining coal'or other material, free of the electrocution hazards Another object is to provide a novel drill head of relatively lightweight capable ofoperation ifro'mia'fiexible or other shaft rotated by any preirredpower source, evenelect'rical such as-a short "Wall" machine which advances with the iiace, in coal mining; t'o-the end thatthe drill may at all times he safely manually held and operated. V

Still another aim is "to provide a coal drill head wherein the parts are advantageously operatively coupled by a friction clutch, to start and stop turningof the dr'ill member-andfor safety purposes, one'par't of "which" clutch may rotate even when the drill is idle, thus avoiding a clutch which gums up, sticks or otherwise becomes danigerous through inactivity.

Further, it is object toprovide coal drill novel p'arts so'that'the tension of the spring means of the clutch is-variableor adjustable.

Again, an object is-to provide anapparatus of thech'aract'er-stated havin a novel, rotatable and axially-slidable operating shaft for the auger,

"which shaft carries interfitted therewith novel :means to variably or adjustablytension the (clutch spring.

Various additional objects and advantages Will in part be pointed out or becomeapparent from a consideration of the-description" following taken in connection withthe-accomp'anying drawings illustrating one.operative embodiment by *wayof example. In said drawings: I

' Fig: 1 is a. view in side elevation illustrating fmy improved drill head: in. connection with a 'coal cutter utilized. as a source of I operating power,

Fig. 2;.isa rear elevation'of theimproved drill head," the hen dles thereof being broken away;

Fig: 3 is. a central. vertical longitudinal sectional view taken approximately-on the line 3-3 of Fig: 2; lookingzin theidirection of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary sectional view ltak'en on the plane of line t l-eof.Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken onthe plane of: linefi-i-E of Fig; 3;

v Fig. 6'. is a fragmentary sectional view' taken onthe plane of line-8+4 of-sFigB and Fig; 7 .is a.1fragmentary se'ctional view take entire-lineJ-lpfFigs34 Referring specificallytothe "drawings wherein like reference: characters designate like? or" similar parts throughout the differentyiews; I Oi designates a drill headidesignated to operate a coal cutting auger ll: Said'drill head lfl is rele atively light in weight 'enablin iit' tobemanually handled; held andfcontrolle'd during miningop= eration's as by meansxofdiametrically opposite. handles 9. A coal cutter l2'lisxone example offa source of power to operatesaid :drillhead, as aby."

means of a suitable ilexible'cableil 3.

Reverting to drill head lfijiit has a'm'ain casing" section Hi, which may be a: casting having'a:

right-hand end walll5' and an :openlefthan'd end; lhe latter end-is closed bya'wall orplate' l6 removably bolted or otherwise secured in" place at ll.

A hollow rotatable and slightly axially slide able shaft [8 is adaptedto operate the cutting:

tool or auger H, and may have 'a' socket portion S integral therewith or fastened thereto, pro

vided with asock'et or bore'l9 hexagonal or Said shaft I8tl1roughouttmost of its length:

is enclosed by and at two locations 22' and 23 journalled and slidable in a hollow shaft 24 which at'one end is enlarged .into or has a'relatively large gear wheel 25iwhich ishollow and "open at the left hand'end.

A suitable or conventional clutch structure which may be mechanicaL'hydrauli-c', pneumatic or, otherwise, is accommodated mainly Within" gear wheel 25'and between clutch head-2i and faii clutch' head 26 secured within and to the, main wall of gear-Wheel 25. As shown,i clutch C is of the friction type having a multiplicity of loosely mounted rings or disks Zldisposed between spiders 28 and 29, 'of heads 2 i and 26, a1t-ernate disks i 2! being interfitted therewith andguidedthereon by means of notches 30 and 3!, respectively. As

will later appear, shafts-is and 24 will not ro tate together unless clutch Cis applied The shaft E lis journaled inan inwardlyexbearing structure 33 carried by a tubular mountil'lg member 34. It will be noted that the inner race member 35 of ball bearing structure 33 abuts a shoulder 35 on shaft 24 and is held from displacement therefrom by a split ring and groove connection 3'! or equivalent whereby shaft 24'is held against movement axially of casing section Hi and hence of the drill head.

The mounting member 34 fits into openings in end wall l and a supplemental end wall 38 secured against the same as by means of bolts 39. Certain of the latter bolts pass through an outwardly extending flange 48 to secure mounting member 34 in place.

A clutch control rod 4| is slidably and rotatably mounted in a bore 42 of the hollow shaft l8. Said rod 4| in an enlargement 43 of said bore is surrounded by an expansive coil spring 44 which abuts a shoulder 45 on shaft [8, the tension of which spring is variable through adjustment of a nut 46 along the screw-threads 4? of said rod 4|, a spacer 48 preferably being interposed on the rod between the spring 44 and nut 46.

At the right-hand end, rod H has a hexagonal or other head 49 facilitating engagement by a wrench to turn the rod relatively to nut 45 which conforms to the shape of the hexagonal bore of socket S to avoid relative rotation although slidable. Head 49 includes a flange 53 which overlaps a ball-bearing structure 5! in which the right-hand end of shaft I8 is journalled and slightly slidable. Such bearing structure 5! is carried by and movable with a knob 52 as it abuts an inward flange 53 of a ring portion 54 thereof through the action of spring 44 and associated parts. Ring portion 54 is adjustably mounted in mounting 34 by means of left-hand screw threads 55. Knob 52 includes an inwardly extending peripheral gripping wall 56.

The teeth of gear 25 are shown at 5'! and are enmeshed with the teeth 58 of a gear wheel 59, journaled on a hollow fixed shaft or spindle 65 secured in and bridging aforesaid wall It and a wall Bl on the interior of the lower portion of easing section l4. Said gear wheel 59 has a laterally extending tubular hub 62 to which a gear wheel 63 is fixed.

The flexible shaft I3 is suitably and preferably detachably coupled to a hollow drive shaft 6t and between the latter and gear wheel 59 a suitable two or more speed variable transmission is interposed. More specifically, driveshaft 54 at one end 65 is telescoped and journaled in the fixed shaft 30, and at the other end is journaled in a ball-bearing structure 55 mounted in end wall l5. This drive shaft 64 is equipped with different sized gear wheels 51 and 58 adapted to selectively mesh with gear-wheels 69 and coupled together as a change speed unit H slidable along an extended tubular hub 12 of a gear-wheel I3 enmeshed with gear-wheel 63 aforesaid.

Said change speed unit H as well as slidable along gear hub 12 is rotatable therewith through interengagement with splines 14 of hub l2. Said unit H may be moved by any suitable means as by through the manual sliding of a conventional shifter in a slot 16 in the wall of casing section Hi from the exterior of the latter, and which shifter has a fork I8 engaged .in an annular groove 11 of unit H. Reverting to gear 33, it is journaled on a fixed shaft or spindle '18 mounted in openings in end wall l5 and an extension 19 of the bearing 32. Supplemental end wall 38 and a flange 18' on shaft 18 prevent axial displacement of said shaft. Also a hollow boss 38' on. end e l 38 accommodates stufiing means [3' about the adjacent end of shaft I3.

Attention is directed to the fact that although two different speeds of operation are shown, the parts may be modified to enable any desired number of different or selective speeds to be attained.

The coal cutter I2 is shown as but one source of power to drive flexible shaft i3 being for instance a Short Wall Machine, electrically or otherwise driven, which advances with the face in coal mining. At the power take-off of coal cutter l2, it may include a clutch with or without speed increasing gearing at 85.

The extent of rotation of knob 52 is limited by the engagement of lugs Si and 82 on the knob and wall 38 or other part of the casing, respectively.

It will be realized that the casing of the drill. head is closed so that lubricant for the operating. parts may be sealed therein.

With the parts as in Fig. 3, presuming the clutch C to be in released position, spring 4 3 is usually neutral or uncompressed, whereby flange 58 is maintained in contact with the inner race member of ball-bearing 5i, and this action is augmented through an urge to slide rod ii to the left, if such spring is under compression. In this position, the spring being neutral does not bind the plate 2! against the clutch plates 2?. However, when knob 52 is turned, the left-hand screv threads at 55 cause the knob to slide slightly to the right, as well as turn, carrying ball-bearing structure 5| with it, and accordingly through its contact with flange 50, moving the rod 4| to the right and compressing the spring 54 which slides shaft 53 to the right and causes plate 2i of the clutch to apply the plates 2'! and thus couple or clutch the shaft 8 with the shaft 2d order to rotate the auger H. Attention is called to the fact that spring 55 may be placed under any desired operative compression through the turning of rod AI upon application of a wrench or other tool to the head 49, since such rod is threaded to the nut and the latter cannot turn relatively thereto but slides only in the bore of socket S. Through the medium of this spring, the clutch pressure is variable and regulable.

In the use of the apparatus disclosed, the power is supplied by the coal cutter I2 or any other source, which source may even be electrical, since the parts constituting the instant invention as operated therefrom, are mechanical and thus entirely overcome the electrical hazard, notwithstanding the fact that the instant invention is of such a weight that it is manually held at the handles 5' during operation. Power is supplied through the rotation of flexible shaft i3, which may be of any preferred length, and which shaft operates the .power shaft 6%. From the latter shaft, gear-wheel i3 is driven at different selected speeds dependent upon the enmeshing of gearwheels 6 and 69 or gear-wheels and lil, effected through the adjustment of the shifting member 15. Said gear-wheel 13 through the gear-wheel 83 drivesgear-wheel 59, and the latter is enmeshedwith the gear-wheel 5's so that the shaft 24 is rotated. Shaft l8 and the drill ii carried thereby will remain idle unless the clutch C is applied, in the manner hereinbefore specifically set forth through the operation of knob 52 and associated parts.

During usual operation, spring 44 will not be compressed so that when .pushing the tool against the work, socket S and shaft 13 will have a unitary sliding movement axially relatively to the remainder of the device and cause engagement of the plates of clutchC so that the socket S and shaft It will be rotated from shaft i3 through the gearing and clutch. Shoulditbe desired, rod 4! may be rotated to compress spring 44 so that the plates of clutch C will be engaged through such compression, this being done primarily in an emergency should the operator wish to rotate the drill while extracting. it.

' It is to be especially emphasized-that clutch C affords a maximum safety feature inasmuch as certain of the clutch disks 2?, even when the clutch is released, will positively rotate with the shaft 25. This overcomes the employment of a clutch wherein parts are not moved, even though the drive for the apparatus is operating, thus avoiding inefficiency and danger of sticking or breakage through non-use. The present clutch is therefore always in condition for effective and safe operation of the apparatus to the miner. Further, clutch C is set or adjusted to automatically slip or yield at its plates or disks upon the auger in drilling encountering resistance above a predetermined degree, which greatly enhances safety because the drill head cannot be turned or twisted by the power and correspondingly swing or tilt the body of the operator holding the same orswing against his face or other part of his body.

Various changes may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. r

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described having a casing including a wall at one end and a closure member at the other end, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing and journalled and slidable in said wall and closure member, said shaft at the end adjacent said closure member forming a socket for an auger or the like, a shaft non-axially movable relatively to and journalled in said casing concentric with and rotatable independently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft. controlled through movement of the first-mentioned shaft relatively to the second-mentioned shaft, clutch means between said shafts, and means extending within the first shaft operable to control said clutch means.

2. Apparatus of the class described having a casing including a wall at one end and-a closure member at the other end, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing. and journalled in said wall and closure member, said shaft at the end adjacent said closure member forming a socket for an auger or the like, a shaft journalled in said casing concentric with and rotatable independently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft, clutch means between said shafts, said first shaft being slidable, a rod extending longitudinally of the first shaft in limited relatively slidable relation therewith, a spring abutting the first shaft and a part on said rod preventing application of the clutch means, and means operable to slide said rod against said spring to cause the latter to, slide the first shaft to apply said clutch means.

3. Apparatus of the class described having a casing including a wall at one end andfa closure member at the other end, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing and iournalled in said ently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft, clutch means between said shafts, said first shaft being slidable, a rod extending longitudinally of the first shaft in limited rotatable and slidable relation therewith, a nut slidable in the said socket and held therein against rotation, said nut being threaded to said rod, spring means abutting the first shaft and abutted by said nut so that turning of the nut will compress the spring means, and means operableto slide said rod against said spring to cause the latter to slide the first shaft to apply said clutch means.

4. Apparatus of the class described having a casing including a wall at one end and a closure member at the other end, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing and journalled in said Wall and closure member, said shaft at the end adjacent said closure member forming a socket 1 for an auger or the like, a shaft journalled in said casing concentric with and rotatable independently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft, clutch means between said shafts, said first shaft being slidable, a rod extending longitudinally of the first shaft in limited rotatable and slidable relation therewith, a nut slidable in the said socket and held therein against rotation, said nut being threaded tosaid rod, spring means abutting the first shaft and abutted by said nut so that turning of the nut will compress the spring means, a bearing in the casing in which the first shaft is journalled abutted by a part on said rod, and rotatable and axially movable means carrying said bearing.

5. Apparatus of the class described having a casing including a wall at one end and a closure member at the other end, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing and journalled in said wall and closure member, said shaft at the end adjacent said closure member forming a. socket for an auger or the like, a shaft journalled in said casing concentric with and rotatable in.- dependently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft, clutch means between said shafts, said first shaft being slidable, a rod extending longitudinally of the first shaft in limited rotatable and slidable relation therewith, a nut slidable in the said socket and held therein against rotation, said nut being threaded to said rod, spring means abutting the first shaft and abutted by said nut so that turning of the nut will compress the spring means, a bearing in the casing in which the first shaft is journalled abut-ted by a part on said rod, the second shaft journaling the first shaft adjacent said bearing, a bearing for the first shaft, a mounting on the casing for the latter bearing, and an operating element carrying the first bearing and screw threaded to said mounting.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing adapted to operate an auger or the like, a clutch plate extending from said shaft within the casing, a hollow shaft within the casing concentric with the first shaft having a relatively large gear-wheel thereon, clutch means between said plate and. gear-wheel, means to drive said second shaft, said first shaft having a limited axial movement, a rod disposed within the first shaft in relatively slidable relation with respect thereto, spring means within the first shaft engageable at opposite ends with such shaft and the rod, and means operable from the exterior of the to slide said rod to compress said spring whereby the latter will slide the second-mentioned shaft and apply the clutch.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing adapted a to operate an auger or the like, a clutch plate extending from said shaft within the casing, a hollow shaft within the casing concentric with the first shaft having a relatively large gear-wheel thereon, clutch means between said plate and gear wheel, means to drive said second shaft, said first shaft having a limited axial movement, a rod disposed within the first shaft in relatively slidable relation with respect thereto, spring means within the first shaft engageable at opposite ends with such shaft and the rod, means operable from the exterior of the casing to slide said rod to compress said spring whereby the latter will slide the second-mentioned shaft and apply the clutch, said means to drive said second shaft including gearing intermeshed with said gear-wheel, a hollow shaft mounting said last-mentioned gear-wheel, a drive-shaft interfitted with the last-mentioned hollow shaft, and a variable speed connection operable from the exterior of the casing and located between the last-mentioned shaft and last-mentioned gear- Wheel.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing 9 adapted to operate an auger or the like, a clutch plate extending from said shaft within the easing, a hollow shaft within the casing concentric with the first shaft having a relatively large gearwheel thereon, clutch means between said plate and gear-wheel, means to drive said second shaft, said first shaft having a limited axial movement, a rod disposed within the first shaft in relatively slidable relation with respect thereto, spring means within the first shaft engageable at opposite ends with such shaft and the rod, means operable from the exterior of the casing to slide said rod to compress said spring whereby the latter will slide the second-mentioned shaft and apply the clutch, said means to drive said second shaft including gearing intermeshed with said gear-wheel, a hollow shaft mounting said last-mentioned gear-wheel, a drive-shaft interfitted with the last-mentioned hollow shaft, a variable speed connection operable from the exterior of the casing and located between the lastmentioned shaft and last-mentioned gear-wheel, including a fixed shaft on which a part of the variable speed connection is mounted, and a bearing within the case for the second-mentioned shaft having an extension in which the lastmentioned fixed shaft is supported.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing adapted to operate an auger or the like, a clutch plate extending from said shaft within the casing, a hollow shaft within the casing concentric with the first shaft having a relatively large gearwheel thereon, clutch means between said plate and gear-wheel, means to drive said second shaft, said first shaft having a limited axial movement, a rod disposed within the first shaft in relatively slidable relation with respect thereto, spring means within the first shaft engageable at opposite ends with such shaft and the rod, means operable from the exterior of the casing to slide said rod to compress said spring whereby the latter will slide the second-mentioned shaft and apply the clutch, a mounting member on the casing, the last-mentioned means comprising an element screw-threaded to said mounting member, a bearing structure carried by the last-mentioned means against which the rod abuts, and a bearing member for the second shaft carried by the mounting member.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing adapted to operate an auger or the like, a clutch plate extending from said shaft within the easing, a hollow shaft within the casing concentric with the first shaft having a relatively large gear-wheel thereon, clutch means between said plate and gear-Wheel, means to drive said second shaft, said first shaft having 9, limited axial movement, a rod disposed within the first shaft in relatively slidable relation with respect thereto, spring means within the first shaft engageable at opposite ends with such shaft and the rod, and means operable from the exterior of the casing to slide said rod to compress said spring whereby the latter will slide the second-mentioned shaft and apply the clutch, a mounting member on the casing, the last-mentioned means comprising an element screw-threaded to said mounting member, a bearing structure carried by the last-mentioned means against which the rod abuts, a, bearing member for the second shaft carried by the mounting member, said casing having an end wall, a supplemental wall disposed against the same, said walls having openings into which the supporting member extends, a flange on the mounting member secured to the supplemental wall, and said supplemental wall crossing the last-mentioned fixed shaft.

11. Apparatus of the class described having a casing, a rotatable shaft spanning the casing and at opposite ends being journaled and slidably mounted in Walls of the casing, said shaft at one end having means for attachment thereto of an auger or the like, a shaft non-axially movable relatively to and journaled in said casing concentric with and rotatable independently of the first shaft, means to drive the second shaft, clutch means between the shafts controlled by movement of the first-mentioned shaft relative to the second-mentioned shaft, and means extending within the first shaft operable to control said clutch means.

12. Apparatus of the class described having a casing, a shaft member extending therethrough having its opposite ends journalled and slidably mounted in opposite walls of said casing, said shaft member within said casing having an enlarged part forming a clutch plate, a shaft journalled on said member for rotation independently thereof, said shaft having an enlargement providing a plate opposite said clutch plate and an outer annular rim provided with gear teeth, friction clutch means between said clutch plate and second-mentioned plate controlled through the sliding of said shaft member, a bearing mounted in the casing, means securing said shaft to said bearing against sliding movement, and drive means including gearing enmeshed with said teeth.

13. Apparatus of the class described having a casing, relatively close aligned outer and inner bearings mounted in one wall of said casing, a shaft member rotatably and slidably mounted by said outer bearing and by the opposite wall of said casing, a shaft journalled on said member and by said inner bearing, means securing said shaft to the inner bearing against sliding movement, clutch plates extending out from said shaft member and shaft within said casing, friction clutch means between said plates controlled through the sliding movement of said shaft member.

14. Apparatus of the class described having a casing, relatively close aligned outer and inner bearings mounted in one wall of said casing, a shaft member rotatably and slidably mounted by said outer bearing and by the opposite wall of said casing, a shaft journalled on saidmember and by said inner bearing, a bearing extending inwardly from a wall of the casing in spaced relation to the first-mentioned walls and outer and inner bearings through which said shaft passes, means securing said shaft to the inner bearing against sliding movement, clutch plates extending out from said shaft member and shaft Within said casing, and friction clutch means between said plates controlled through the sli ing movement of said shaft member.

15. Apparatus of the class described having a casing, relatively close aligned outer and inner bearings mounted in one wall of said casing, a shaft member rotatably and slidably mounted by said outer bearing and by the opposite Wall of said casing, a shaft journalled on said member and by said inner bearing, means securing said shaft to the inner bearing against sliding movement, clutch plates extending out from said shaft member and shaft within said casing, friction clutch means between said plates controlled through the sliding movement of said shaft mem ber, means having screw connection with said casing carrying said outer bearing, and resilient clutch-control means passing through the shaft member and having a sliding movement with said outer bearing.

16. Apparatusof the class described having a casing, a rotatable shaft member, a tool-mounting and driving member aligned with and extending from one end of the shaft member, a shaft in said casing mounted against axial move ment longitudinally thereof and being journalled on and concentric with and rotatable independently of said shaft member, means to drive the shaft, clutch means in the casing carried by and between the shaft and shaft member, said shaft member and tool-mounting and driving member being slidable as a unit in one direction relative to the casing and shaft to apply the said clutch means, and means coacting with said shaft and shaft member operable to apply available force on said clutch means.

17. Apparatus of the class described having a rotary and slidable member provided with means at one end to mount and operate an auger or the like, a shaft member rotatable independently of said slidable member, means to rotate said shaft member, means intermediate the ends of said members and carried by the members and operable to clutch said slidable member and shaft member together to operate said slidable member through the application of operating pressure to the slidable member, a spring carried by one of said members, and means operable to compress said spring against one of said members to engage said clutch means.

ANDREW B. CRICI-ITON, J R. CARL G. WENNERSTROM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,002,310 Pronuncier Sept. 5, 1911 1,203,751 LeBlonol et al. Nov. 7, 1916 1,247,829 Harley Nov. 27, 1917 1,572,067 Brooker Feb. 9, 1926 1,684,231 Levendahl Sept. 11, 1928 1,903,963 Emrick Apr. 18, 1933 2,141,209 Emrick Dec. 2'7, 1938 2,151,338 Shonnard Mar. 21, 1939 2,231,465 Emrick Feb. 11, 1941 2,245,471 Garvin June 10, 1941 2,483,613 Benbow Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 249,594 Italy July 31, 1928 298,026 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1928 Germany Oct. 9, 1923 

